Zhang Fangyong glances at a photograph of fellow boxer Floyd "Money" Mayweather.
The retired American superstar could earn hundreds of millions of dollars from a bout, but China's Zhang sometimes fights for nothing and supports himself by making deliveries on his motorbike.
The 26-year-old bantamweight has recovered from losing three of his first four fights to improve his win-loss-draw record to 14-3-1, with three wins by knockout.
But it is Zhang's determination to pursue his career despite numerous obstacles that has won him the hearts of Chinese sports fans and the admiration of the wider public.
His story was part of a recent Chinese government-backed documentary film, "Changing China", which charts the progress of the world's most populous country through the stoic battles of ordinary young people trying to get by.
The good-natured Zhang, who grew up in rural poverty, earns so little from the sport that he has taken on an array of menial jobs to keep his boxing dream alive.
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He was a security guard but was fired after a few days because he was deemed too small. He also previously worked in a restaurant kitchen, in home removals and construction.
His job as a delivery driver, first in the city of Kunming and now in the capital Beijing, comes with its own challenges.
Zhang's electric scooter -- bought for 6,000 yuan ($870) thanks to a small loan -- was stolen while he was delivering a meal.
"I chased the person wildly for more than two kilometres but I couldn't catch up with him," he said in an interview at Beijing's M23 Boxing Club, home to WBA featherweight world champion Xu Can.
"A delivery person always protects his meal, no matter what," Zhang said, adding that he held on to the takeaway even while chasing the thief.
- 'I didn't give in' -
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"This shows that as long as you are willing to work hard and believe, I can stand here too."